Alan Cayetano undaunted by surveys

DIGOS CITY, Philippines—Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said he was not bothered by recent vice presidential survey results showing him trailing behind Senators Francis Escudero and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Surveys reflect the sentiment of the people at a given time and this sentiment could change,” Cayetano told reporters during a visit here on Thursday.

“In the surveys, anyone can take the lead at any given time,” he said.

“Look at previous surveys, Vice President (Jejomar) Binay was on top. When the issues against him came out, Sen. Grace Poe overtook his lead. When the people realized that their safety and that of their children was more important and the problem of illegal drugs was very serious, Mayor Rody (Duterte) came out on top,” he said.

“In the vice presidential surveys, similar things will happen,” he predicted.

Cayetano noted that when the possibility of him running for Vice President first came out, he was high in surveys. But when the Poe-Escuero tandem was announced, his ranking dropped.

In a survey conducted by Pulse Asia from Sept. 8 to 14, Cayetano emerged as a far third vice presidential preference with 16 percent, against Escudero’s 43 percent and Marcos’ 19 percent.

In another survey, conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in November, Cayetano came in third with 21 percent (up 16 percent from the five points he got in another SWS survey conducted in September). Escudero maintained his lead with 30 percent while Marcos got 24 percent.

While Escudero was the top choice in the National Capital Region, Luzon and Visayas, Cayetano was ahead of him in voter preferences in Mindanao with 34 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him.

“Now, my points are rising again,” Cayetano said as he expressed optimism he would overtake his close rivals in the vice presidential race.